Control system for surface effect machines



Oct. 4, 1966 R. DOWNHILL 3,276,738

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SURFACE EFFECT MACHINES Filed NOV. 22, 1963 J'NVE N TOR, ROBERT DOWNHILL ATTORNE United States Patent 3,276,738 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SURFACE EFFECT MACHINES Robert Downhill, Florissaut, M0. (338 Lady Margaret Road, Southall, England) Filed Nov. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 325,549 1 Claim. (Cl. 251-298) The invention relates to surface effect machines and the like and consists particularly in a control system therefor.

Controlling surface effect machines is made difficult because of the absence of friction between the machines and the supporting surface, and consequently there is no positive way of positioning such a machine. Because of the low operating speeds of these machines, aerodynamic forces are of such small magnitude as to be of negligible importance.

Conventional methods of control utilize propellers, air jets from louvers in the sides of the machine, or tilting the machine so it slides in the desired direction. The first two methods require much structure in addition to that required for supporting and propelling the machine, and

the third method is not satisfactory because it requires tilting the machine.

It accordingly is a main object to provide a control system for surface effect machines in which propulsion and direction control are combined.

It is a further object to provide valve construction capable of selectively directing a jet of fluid in any desired direction, adaptable for guiding surface effect machines, airplanes, power boats, and other vehicles.

FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view along line 1--1 of FIG. 2 of a surface elfect machine embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the valves in vertical trim position.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view along the left hand end of FIG. 2, showing a valve in a directional position.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 refers to a generally triangular plenum chamber of a surface effect machine, formed by an upper wall 3, the periphery 5 of which is turned downwardly and slightly rebent inwardly, and a bottom wall 7, the periphery of which is turned upwardly at 9 and positioned inwardly of the top wall periphery 5 so as to form therewith a downwardly and inwardly incline-d annular orifice 11.

For providing air or other suitable fluid under pressure to the plenum chamber a blower 12 is mounted on upper wall 3, and its outlet 14 communicates with the interior of the chamber.

Substantially equiangularly and slightly inwardly of its periphery, bottom wall 7 is circularly apertured to form ports 13, 15 and 17 in the shape of rounded approach orifices, the wall portions 18 surrounding the ports being thickened and of generally semitoroidal shape to form seats 19 for convex marginal surface portions 20 of mushroom-shaped valves 21, 23 and 25, the central portions 26 of which are relatively fiat. The convex marginal portions are spherical sections and when the valves are closed are in tangential engagement with the rounded margins 19 of the ports. The upwardly extending stems 27, 29, and 31 of valves 21, 23, are spherically fulcrumed at the center of their convexity in screw-type fittings 32 threadably fitted in upper wall 3 to permit the valves to be universally tilted to uncover any side of the port. The equilateral triangle connecting the centers of the three circular ports is symmetrical with respect to the normal Patented Oct. 4, 1966 direction of movement, i.e., the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, with the port 13 on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle near its forward end, and ports 15 and 17 at opposite sides of the vehicle longitudinal axis and in transverse alignment with each other.

Intermediate their ends, valve stems 27, 29 and 31 are provided with spherical bearing brackets 33 which are connected to each other by a rigid T-shaped control rod consisting of a transverse member 34 between the stems of rear valves 23 and 25 and connected at its midpoint to the stem of forward valve 21 by a longitudinal member 35, the connections to bearing bracket 33 being in the form of balls 43 at both ends of members 34 and at the forward end of member 35.

Stem 27 of forward valve 21 extends upwardly beyond its fulcrum in fitting 32 to form a control lever 45 projecting upwardly from plenum chamber top wall 3.

Intermediate its ends, member 35 of the T-shaped control rod passes between a pair of spaced rollers 47, 47 which form a vertical fulcrum for the control rod so that when control lever 45 is moved to the right, causing valve 21 to uncover the left hand side of forward port 13 thus directing a jet of air to the right, the rear end of member 35 moves to the right, causing member 34 to move to the right and rotating valve stems 29 and 31 to the right about their fulcrums in fitting 32 to uncover the right hand sides of ports 15 and 17, thus directing jets of air to the left and causing machine to turn to the left.

Conversely, movement of control lever 45 to the left causes the right hand side of front port 13, and the left hand sides of rear ports 15 and 17 to be uncovered, thus directing jets of air to the right from the front port and to the left from the rear ports and turning the machine to the right.

For effecting forward movement of the machine, lever 45 is moved rearwardly, thus rotating valve 21 forwardly about its fulcrum in fitting 32 and uncovering the forward side of port 13, and T-shaped control rod 34, 35 moves forwardly, thus causing valves 23 and 25 similarly to uncover the forward sides of ports 15 and 17, thus directing jets of air rearwardly through the ports and propelling the machine forward. Rearward movement of the machine is conversely eifected by moving the control lever 45 forward.

For effecting lateral trim, rollers 47, 47, between which member 41 is fulcrumed, are mounted on the longitudinally extending arm 49 of a horizontal bell crank fulcrumed at 51 on the top wall 3 of the plenum chamber and the transversely extending arm 53 of the bell crank is connected by a pitman 54 to a block 55 mounted on longitudinal screw 56 rotated by handwheel 57, so that when, by means of wheel 57, screw 56, block 55, and pitman 54, bell crank 49, 53 is rotated about its fulcrum 51, control rod 34, 35 will be similarly moved to the left or right, causing a corresponding opening in the same lateral direction of all three valves, with resultant jets of air expelled through all the ports in the same lateral direction to effect the desired lateral trim.

An operators seat 58 may be provided adjacent control lever 45 and lateral trim wheel 57.

Vertical trim is effected by individually screwing fittings 32 upwardly or downwardly in top wall 3, thus causing a corresponding vertical movement of valves 21, 23 or 25 relative to their seats on the thickened rims 18 of their ports.

Operation of the controls is as follows: The main support ground cushion is supplied by orifice 11. For normal forward movement, control lever 45 is held in a rearwardly inclined position, thus opening the forward portions of port 13, and through control rod 34, 35 of ports 15 and 17. If it is desired to turn the machine to the left or right, the control lever is manipulated in the opposite direction, thus opening the right or left side, respectively, of ports 13, and, through the pivoting of member 35 about its fulcrum at 47, 47, opening ports 15 and 17 on their sides opposite to the opening or port 13, producing air jets in a correspondingly opposite direction with consequent turning of the machine. Lateral trim is provided by manipulating wheel 57 to offset rollers 47 47 laterally from their normal centered position and thereby correspondingly move control rod 34, 35 laterally from its normal centered position, causing a corresponding opening of all the valves in the same direction laterally. Operation in reverse is accomplished by moving control lever 45 forward from its normal vertical position, thereby opening the rear sides of port 13 and, through control rod 34, 35 of ports 15 and 17 to provide forwardly directed jets of air from the ports.

The invention may be modified in various respects as will occur to those skilled in the art and the exclusive use of all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

A valve device comprising wall structure forming a circular port, in the shape of a rounded approach orifice, a circular valve of greater diameter than said port and having a relatively flat central portion and convex marginal surface of spherical contour adapted to tangentially engage the rounded margin of said port, said valve having a central stem formed with a spherical fulcrum at the center of its convexity and structure mounting said fulcrum for movement in a direction normal to said port whereby to provide passage of fluid through said port in a plurality of directions transverse of said port by tilting said valve about said fulcrum and to provide an annular opening between the margin of said valve and said port by moving said fulcrum in a direction normal to said port.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,121,199 12/1914 Pace 137-527.4 2,289,239 7/1942 Bryant 251-86 2,888,036 5/1959 Reppert 137-5274 2,981,501 4/1961 Schaefer -7 3,159,228 12/1964 Byrne et al 180-7 3,170,530 2/1965 Black 180-7 FOREIGN PATENTS 197 1/ 1854 Great Britain.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

M. S. SALES, Assistant Examiner. 

